COLORADO SPRINGS – On Tuesday, residents here will cast ballots for City Council contests throughout the city.

Gary Flakes was convicted of being an accessory to murder in the 1997 shotgun slayings of two teenage boys. He’s now running for City Council. The Gazette

And among the most watched races in Colorado Springs will be the battle for the sprawling southeastern District 4 seat. Gary Flakes, along with three other candidates — Deborah Hendrix, Dennis Moore and Helen Collins — are vying to represent the district.

In January, The Denver Post highlighted this race in a piece on Flakes and his past in this city at the base of Pikes Peak. Flakes and an accomplice were charged in the 1997 Valentine’s Day murders of Scott Hawrysiak and Andy Westbay.

Flakes served his time, was released from parole in 2011, and announced his run for City Council back in January. His announcement set off a firestorm in this community, with people torn as to whether or not he should run for office.

Flakes declined several interview requests from The Post, but shortly after his release from prison, he spoke with a Gazette columnist. In the interview, he described a life transformed by reading books such as “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Flakes had converted to Islam, he told the columnist, and had dedicated his life to mentoring youths.

But Flakes’ challengers in the race have questioned his contributions to the district and experience as a viable candidate.

We’ll follow the results of this race on Tuesday night and look to provide updates to this post.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.